After this winter I am gonna get a new wetsuit and was wondering what is the best wetsuit for November through February Swell. Dont really care about money.
So far for me it is easily Patagonia R4. (I have worn every winter wetsuit over the last 20 years.) I also heard they are doing limited release of a plant based wetsuit that is sustainable and will change the game over the next few years. I am going to look into this one too.
Billabong sg5 hooded 5/4. This suit fits me well and is super comfy and stretchy. I tried on the r4 and a xcel dry lock 5/4 and they both felt heavy and stiff in comparison. On the same note they are probably warmer more durable suits. Try a bunch on.
xcel chest zip. I'm not a huge fan of dry lock but the infinity and even the x-zip are stretchy and warm and awesome. I'd try Patagonia but knowing that I can get a proven suit for half the price from xcel, I just can't bring myself to do it.
I'm a big fan of the mutant too, and the heat 4/3...kind of a bulky dude I like the way O'neils fit me.
got a rip curl flashbomb 5/4 haven't gotten even chilly in it yet it fits great and got good stretch .
I absolutely love the E-bomb pro and Flashbomb. So much stretch. I hardly feel like I am in a suit. Also, it is as warm as one could ever want to be.
I was gonna say 'favorite' but not 'best' unless you've tried every one out there - and then I see the legend has tried every one. What would your top 3 be jim? What is it about the patagonia suit you like so much (and that justifies the high price)? warmth? fit? performance? all of the above? like lee says you can get quality suits for so much less...
I totally love my new 4/3 hooded Xcel Drylock. Very comfortable and warm. Stay dry. Every time I've gone out this winter I wind up sweating in it. Along with Xcel 7 ml booties and 5 ml gloves. I'm sure the 5ml suit is even warmer. talked to someone who actually shifted from 5 to 4 ml cause their so warm. Alot has to do with fit as well.
Appreciate the info, im leaning towards the ripcurl flash bomb and the xcel Infiniti drylock. I feel like both of these will keep me warm and have enough stretch to it. Now just gotta wait for the discounts.
I really love my Mutant 5/4. It is warm and flexible and comfortable. One thing: The little tiny zipper that attaches the hood yoke is a royal pain in the arse to get zipped up. When it's cold out, my fingers get stupid and I have to get a buddy to start the farkin zipper. Anybody else experience this and have a solution?
Keep your eye on whiskeymilitia.com. Picked up a 5/4 Drylock on there last summer for 2 Hundo. Been wearing it all winter and love it. Just need to step up to 7ml on the booties.
I gotta second what Uncle Irish said. I got my xcel x-zip on there for the same price. For $200 it can't really be beat! The one question no one's asked that I think is fairly important is where the hell are you surfing? Cuz that makes a big difference in how serious of a suit you need. I've got the 6/5 xcel b/c the current water temp is 36 F where I'm at. It's keeping me pretty toasty!
I live in Virginia Beach, and surf here and in the obx would like to travel to jersey sometime and catch some swell there so i believe a 4/3 to 5/4 is my best bet. prefer the 4/3 so i will have more maneuverability.
FYI, Patagonia future plant wetsuits...http://www.adventure-journal.com/20...-based-neoprene-could-revolutionize-wetsuits/